Priming device.



F. M. FURBER. PRIMING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9, I913.

Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

FREDERICK M. FURBER, 0F REVERE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 ARTHUR R. MOSLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PRIMING DEVICE.

Application filed December 19, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK M. FUR- BER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Revere, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Priming Devices, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to priming devices for use with internal combustion engines.

More specifically it relates to priming attachments fpr spark plugs used in engines of this character.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide spark plugs with devices or attachments by which the priming of the engine could be effected through the plug, thus avoiding the useof separate priming cups for the engine. The constructions of this character of which I am aware, however, are open tothe objection that they often interfere with the use of a wrench on the plug for the purpose of inserting or removing it from the cylinder; and they are so constructed that, when the plug is in its operative position in the engine, it is often very difficult or inconvenient to use the priming attachment.

The present invention aims to devise a construction in which these objections shall be avoided.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a priming device which shall be simple but substantial in construction and can be cheaply manufactured.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, reference being 7 made to the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a priming device constructed in accordance with this invention and combined with a spark plug;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view .on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 1s a perspective view of certain details to which reference later will be made.

The spark plug shown comprises an outer shell or body 2 adapted to be screwed into the cylinder of an engine and having a gradually tapered bore' in which an, insu-.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. '7, 1915.

Serial No. 807,763.

lator 4 is secured by means of a bushing 6. One electrode 8 of the plug is mounted in the inner end of the body 2 and the other electrode 10 is movably mounted in a central bore or passage formed in the insulator 4. When this electrode is in its normal or operative position its end is separated from its cooperating electrode 8 by a short gap across which the spark jumps.

Mounted on the top of the insulator 4: is a cap 12 which may be secured to the insulator in any convenient manner, as by crimping its lower edge 14: over a shoulder formed near the end of the insulator, a packing 16 preferably being interposed between the insulator and the cap so as to insure a tight joint between these parts. This cap serves as a support for, and may be made integrally with, a priming cup 18 that projects above the cap. The cap is centrally apertured to provide an outlet from the cup 18; and this aperture, with the bore of the insulator, forms a passage entirely through the plug through which the priming liquid, placed in the cup 18, may flow into the cylinder of the engine. In order to close this passage against the escape of gases from the cylinder the outlet from the cup 18 is provided with a valve seat 20 and the electrode 10 has fixed thereto a valve 22 which is shaped and positioned to fit in this seat when the electrode is in its normal position. The electrode extends above the valve 22 projecting loosely through the removable cover 2d for the priming cup and is provided above the cover with a head 26 which may be in the form of a nut. Between the cover 2 1 and the valve 22 a coiled spring 28 encircles the electrode 10 and tends to push the valve and cover away from each other, this movement, of course, being limited by the nut 26.

In order to hold the cover in its normal position on the cup 18 opposite out-turned flanges 30 are formed part way around the rim of the cup and the cover 24 is provided on opposite sides with depending inturned fingers 32 constructed to engage the under sides of the flanges 30 when the cover is in the position in which it is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the cover is turned at. right angles to this position, the fingers 32 will be moved out of engagement with the flanges 30 and the cover may then be rein Figs. 1 and 2. In this moved from the cup, carrying the electrode 10 with it. To facllitate this turning movement of the cover it is provided with two wings 34similar to the wings of an ordinary thumb screw, or winged nut. In order to hold the cover against accidental displacement which might, for instance, be caused by vibration, each of the flanges 30 has a shallow notch 36 formed in its lower surface to receive oneo'f the fingers 32; and the spring 28, of course, tends to hold the fingers seated in their respective notches.

In using the device, assuming the plug to be in its operative position in an engine cylinder, the operator turns the cover 24 into a positionrat right angles to that in which it is shown in Fig. 1, thus releasing the fingers 32 from the flanges 30. He then lifts the cover away from the cup 18, thus raising the valve 22 from its seat and withdrawing the electrode from the plug. A small quantity of gasolene or other priming fluid is next introduced into th cup and this fluid immediately flows through the bore of the insulator into the engine cylinder. The cover 2% is then replaced and turned i1 1to the position in which it is shown osition the spring 28-holds the valve 22 rmly in the valve seat 20 and closes the passage through the plug against leakage, while it also holds the fingers of the cover in engagement with the flanges of the cup as above stated. Between the cap 12 and the cup 24 there preferably is formed a reduced portion which is adapted to receive the terminal 37 of the conductor by which the plug is connected to the ignition system.-

In the present construction the passage through the insulator is made just large enough to receive the electrode 10 in order to avoid weakening the insulator; but it is obvious that this passage might be made larger than the electrode, in which case it would not be necessary to remove the electrode from the insulator in order to permit the flow of priming fluid through the plug. The ready removal of the electrode, however, is advantageous since it permits this part to be easily cleaned. In fact, the act of withdrawing the electrode from the plug serves to remove any deposit that may have accumulated on the electrode. It will also be noted that, in the construction shown, the cup 18 is so small that it does not interfere with the application of the ordinary spark plug wrench to the plug for the purpose of inserting or removing it from the cylinder. Due to the peculiar construction of this plug this cup preferably is made small enough to go through the bushing 6 so that the cap and priming cup may be secured on the insulator before the insulator is assembled in the plug.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a spark plug having an insulator provided with a bore, of an electrode movable in said bore, a cap on said insulator, a valve seat in said cap, and a valve carried by said electrode and adapted to fit said seat.

- 2. The combination with a spark plug having an insulator provided with a bore, of an electrode movable in said bore, a cap on said insulator having an aperture through which said electrode projects, said aperture and bore forming a passage through said plug, a valve seat in said cap, a valve mounted on said electrode and adapted to fit said seat to close said passage or to be moved away from said seat to open the passage, and means for normally holding said valve on its seat.

3. The combination with a spark plug having an insulator provided with a bore, of an electrode slidable in said bore, a cap upon said insulator havinga passage through which said electrode projects, and means carried by said electrode for closing said passage.

4. The combination with a spark plug having an insulator provided with a passa e therethrough, of an electrode removab y supported in said passage, a valve fixed on said electrode, and means cooperating with said valve and electrode to maintain said passage normally closed, but permitting the removal of the electrode and valve from the plug.

'5. The combination with a spark plug having an insulator provided with a bore,

site direction to open said passa e, and

means for normally holding sai valve closed.

6. The combination with a spark plug having an insulator provided with a bore, of a priming cup mounted on said insulator and having an outlet communicating w1th said bore, said outlet and bore forming a passage through said plu a valve seat in said outlet, a valve mova le longltudma lly of said outlet into or out of enga ement with said seat to open or close sai passage, :1 cover for said cup connected to said valve and a spring bearing against said cover and operative to hold said valve closed.

7. The combination with a spark plug having an insulator provided with a bore, of a priming cup mounted on said insulator and having an outlet communicatmg with into or out of engagement with said seat to close or open said passage.

8. The combination with a spark plug having an insulator provided with a bore, of a priming cup mounted on said insulator and having an outlet communicating with said bore, said outlet and bore forming a passage through said plug, a valve seat in said outlet, an electrode projecting through, .said bore and said outlet and movable longitudinally of said bore, a valve mounted on said electrode for movement therewith into or out of engagement with said seat to open or close said passage, and means for normally holding said valve closed.

a 9. Thecombination with a spark plughaving aninsulator provided with a bore,

of a priming cup mounted on said insulator and having an outlet communicating with said bore, said outlet and bore forming a passage through said plug, aI'valve seat in said outlet, an electrode projecting through said bore and said outlet and movable longitudinally of said bore, a valve mounted on said electrode for movement therewith into' or out of engagement with said seat to close or open said passage, and a removable cover for said cup connected with said electrode to remove saidvelectrode from the plug or insert it in the plug again.

10. The combination with a spark plug having an insulator provided with a bore, of a priming cup mounted on said insulator and having an outlet communicating with said bore, said outlet and bore forming a passage through said plug, a valve seat in said outlet, an electrode projecting through said bore and said outlet and movable longitudinally of said bore, a valve mounted on said electrode for movement therewith into or out of engagement with said seat to close or open said passage, a removable cover for said cup connected with said electrode to remove or insert the same, said cover and cup having interenga ng parts to hold the cover on the cup, an a spring interposed between said cover and valve and serving to hold the valve in its seat when thecover is on the cup.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK M. FURBER.

Witnesses:

LESTER S. MACDONALD, CHARLES E. GRUSH. 

